- Five different scorers can't help Crewe to three points
- Head Coach Matt Fisher left disappointed with defensive collapse
- Goal of the Season contender from Laura Garner
Crewe Alexandra Women welcomed Blackburn Community Sports to their new home ground, Crewe Alexandra in the Community. The women side were greeted to a rousing applause from the bumper crowd visiting the stunning new facilities.
The worst possible start happened for the home side though as Blackburn took an early lead from a corner that Crewe will look back on as avoidable. Emilia Edwards got the Reds back on level terms with a fanastic finish, but it was immediate heartbreak with the visitors retaking the lead. Blackburn extended their lead before half-time to create a two goal cushion. This completed a tough half for the Alex, who were looking to match the excitement of the fans.
After a few stern words from the coaching staff at the break, Crewe came out on the front foot in the second-half and created some early chances. A shot towards goal looked to have hit an outstretched arm from the Blackburn defender but the referee waved away any appeals.
Left-back Kirsty Stafford got in on the action by bending a shot around a couple of defenders and into the corner of the goal - her first goal since her summer return. Crewe were dominating possession at this stage of the game but sloppy defending was once again their achilles heel. The Blackburn striker created enough space for herself to smash a low shot into the net to make it 2-4.
This mistake made Crewe take it up a gear, with Loren Cooper finishing from close-range and moments later, Grace Duckworth helping the Alex to get the scores back level with a cool finish after breaking the offside trap.
A rollercoaster of a game meant Crewe had to get ready for the dip as the visitors capitalised on another defensive mistake to put them ahead once more.
It was going to take something special for Crewe to equaliser with the time running down on the clock. A stroke of quality from Laura Garner as she noticed the 'keeper off her line by scoring directly from kick-off.
With less than three minutes left, Crewe's point was whipped out as the away side found space on the left-side. The winger pulled back a cross from the byline, which found an unmarked player who tapped home the winner.
A thoroughly entertaining game for the neutral but Matt Fisher will be looking for an instant response against Salford City in the FA Cup Sunday 2 October.